The NSPCC and O2 have launched a campaign to illustrate how innocent searches online can lead to not so innocent results. Highlights how using parental controls to block or filter content can help keep children safe online and includes information on how to set up parental controls on mobiles and tablets, home computers, search engines and games consoles.

Leicestershire Police has made its film to raise awareness of the dangers of online grooming publicly available. Based on the story of teenager Kayleigh Haywood, the film highlights how quickly and easily children can be groomed online without them or those around them knowing it is happening. Kayleigh’s love story is available to watch online in eight different versions, including a signed version, and audio described version and versions translated into five languages. It has previously been shown to schoolchildren aged 11 and above in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland in controlled screenings by specially trained officers.

We wanted to make you aware that Snapchat has released an update recently which includes a feature called Snap Maps. This allows others to see exactly where a snapchat user is, pinpointing their location on a world map.

We would recommend that students switch this feature off to ensure that their location is kept private from other users on this platform. Our recommendation is that students switch the app to ‘Ghost Mode’ which means they are the only person who can see their location on a map.

The following information is provided by Childnet.com:

When first opening the Snap Map users get to make a decision of who they want to be able to view their location. Once these settings are in place they can always be changed in Snapchat’s settings. This can be done in two ways:

1. In the Snapchat settings

In the Snapchat screen click on the Settings (cog) icon> click on ‘see my location’ > Choose the setting which suits you (Ghost Mode)

2.On the Snap Map

Click on the setting button in the top right of the map > choose the setting which suits you (Ghost Mode)